**Claim ID:** very-low-sodium-individual-food

**Claim term:** very low sodium

**Nutrient:** sodium

**Food format:** individual food (not a meal or main dish product)

**Threshold:** The food has a reference amount customarily consumed greater than 30 grams (g) or greater than 2 tablespoons and contains 35 mg or less sodium per reference amount customarily consumed

**CFR section:** 21 CFR 101.61(b)(2)(i)(A)

> The terms “very low sodium,” or “very low in sodium,” may be used on the label or in labeling of foods, except meal products as defined in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.13#p-101.13(l)> § 101.13(l) and main dish products as defined in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.13#p-101.13(m)> § 101.13(m) , provided that: ( i ) ( A ) The food has a reference amount customarily consumed greater than 30 grams (g) or greater than 2 tablespoons and contains 35 mg or less sodium per reference amount customarily consumed; or ( B ) The food has a reference amount customarily consumed of 30 g or less or 2 tablespoons or less and contains 35 mg or less sodium per reference amount customarily consumed and per 50 g (for dehydrated foods that must be reconstituted before typical consumption with water or a diluent containing an insignificant amount, as defined in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(f)(1)> § 101.9(f)(1) , of all nutrients per reference amount customarily consumed, the per 50-g criterion refers to the “as prepared” form);

Source: <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-101/subpart-D/section-101.61>

very-low-sodium-individual-food — FDA nutrient content claim qualification criteria


**Claim ID:** very-low-sodium-main-dish

**Claim term:** very low sodium

**Nutrient:** sodium

**Food format:** main dish

**Threshold:** 35 mg or less of sodium per 100 g of product

**CFR section:** 21 CFR 101.61(b)(3)(i)

> The terms “very low sodium,” or “very low in sodium,” may be used on the label or in labeling of foods, except meal products as defined in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.13#p-101.13(l)> § 101.13(l) and main dish products as defined in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.13#p-101.13(m)> § 101.13(m) , provided that: ( i ) ( A ) The food has a reference amount customarily consumed greater than 30 grams (g) or greater than 2 tablespoons and contains 35 mg or less sodium per reference amount customarily consumed; or ( B ) The food has a reference amount customarily consumed of 30 g or less or 2 tablespoons or less and contains 35 mg or less sodium per reference amount customarily consumed and per 50 g (for dehydrated foods that must be reconstituted before typical consumption with water or a diluent containing an insignificant amount, as defined in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(f)(1)> § 101.9(f)(1) , of all nutrients per reference amount customarily consumed, the per 50-g criterion refers to the “as prepared” form); ( ii ) If the food meets these conditions without the benefit of special processing, alteration, formulation, or reformulation to vary the sodium content, it is labeled to clearly refer to all foods of its type and not merely to the particular brand to which the label attaches (e.g., “potatoes, a very low-sodium food”). ( 3 ) The terms defined in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.61#p-101.61(b)(2)> paragraph (b)(2) of this section may be used on the label or in labeling of meal products as defined in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.13#p-101.13(l)> § 101.13(l) and main dish products as defined in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.13#p-101.13(m)> § 101.13(m) , provided that: ( i ) The product contains 35 mg or less of sodium per 100 g of product; and

Source: <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-101/subpart-D/section-101.61>

very-low-sodium-main-dish — FDA nutrient content claim qualification criteria


**Claim ID:** very-low-sodium-meal

**Claim term:** very low sodium

**Nutrient:** sodium

**Food format:** meal

**Threshold:** 35 mg or less of sodium per 100 g of product

**CFR section:** 21 CFR 101.61(b)(3)(i)

> The terms “very low sodium,” or “very low in sodium,” may be used on the label or in labeling of foods, except meal products as defined in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.13#p-101.13(l)> § 101.13(l) and main dish products as defined in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.13#p-101.13(m)> § 101.13(m) , provided that: ( i ) ( A ) The food has a reference amount customarily consumed greater than 30 grams (g) or greater than 2 tablespoons and contains 35 mg or less sodium per reference amount customarily consumed; or ( B ) The food has a reference amount customarily consumed of 30 g or less or 2 tablespoons or less and contains 35 mg or less sodium per reference amount customarily consumed and per 50 g (for dehydrated foods that must be reconstituted before typical consumption with water or a diluent containing an insignificant amount, as defined in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(f)(1)> § 101.9(f)(1) , of all nutrients per reference amount customarily consumed, the per 50-g criterion refers to the “as prepared” form); ( ii ) If the food meets these conditions without the benefit of special processing, alteration, formulation, or reformulation to vary the sodium content, it is labeled to clearly refer to all foods of its type and not merely to the particular brand to which the label attaches (e.g., “potatoes, a very low-sodium food”). ( 3 ) The terms defined in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.61#p-101.61(b)(2)> paragraph (b)(2) of this section may be used on the label or in labeling of meal products as defined in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.13#p-101.13(l)> § 101.13(l) and main dish products as defined in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.13#p-101.13(m)> § 101.13(m) , provided that: ( i ) The product contains 35 mg or less of sodium per 100 g of product; and

Source: <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-101/subpart-D/section-101.61>

very-low-sodium-meal — FDA nutrient content claim qualification criteria


**Claim ID:** very-low-sodium-small-racc-food

**Claim term:** very low sodium

**Nutrient:** sodium

**Food format:** small-RACC food (≤30g or ≤2 tbsp)

**Threshold:** The food has a reference amount customarily consumed of 30 g or less or 2 tablespoons or less and contains 35 mg or less sodium per reference amount customarily consumed and per 50 g

**CFR section:** 21 CFR 101.61(b)(2)(i)(B)

> The terms “very low sodium,” or “very low in sodium,” may be used on the label or in labeling of foods, except meal products as defined in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.13#p-101.13(l)> § 101.13(l) and main dish products as defined in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.13#p-101.13(m)> § 101.13(m) , provided that: ( i ) ( A ) The food has a reference amount customarily consumed greater than 30 grams (g) or greater than 2 tablespoons and contains 35 mg or less sodium per reference amount customarily consumed; or ( B ) The food has a reference amount customarily consumed of 30 g or less or 2 tablespoons or less and contains 35 mg or less sodium per reference amount customarily consumed and per 50 g (for dehydrated foods that must be reconstituted before typical consumption with water or a diluent containing an insignificant amount, as defined in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(f)(1)> § 101.9(f)(1) , of all nutrients per reference amount customarily consumed, the per 50-g criterion refers to the “as prepared” form);

Source: <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-101/subpart-D/section-101.61>

very-low-sodium-small-racc-food — FDA nutrient content claim qualification criteria